Dog Stroke and Seizures

Hi Laura,
From what you describe with the seizures occurring so closely after the application of Pet Armor, I am suspicious he had an adverse reaction. I hope that you gave him a thorough bath with Dawn Dish Detergent to remove any remaining residual substance from his skin. Most of it may have been absorbed already, but it would not hurt to bathe him (Dawn detergent is non-toxic and excellent to remove oils from the skin).

It does NOT sound like he had a stroke. It sounds like he ruptured or slipped a disc in his back. He needs CAGE REST. He cannot be allowed to walk around all over the house. Put him in a playpen or large kennel with a ‘puppy pee pad’ in one corner for him to use to urinate and defecate. Do not let him walk outside. He needs to be confined for the next 3-6 weeks to let his back heal.

He needs a dose of Nux vomica 12c or 30c. Dissolve one pellet in 2 oz of Spring Water, and give him 1/2 eyedropperful every 8 hours for 3 days. Then one time per week for 3 weeks, depending on how he is doing. This is a homeopathic remedy available at health food stores. It is indicated for injury to the nerves in the back, also for removal of side effects from toxins, drugs, etc.

The Rescue Remedy is good to give him. And Young Living Essential Oils “Stress Away” is also good (You will need to re-apply after his bath with the Dawn detergent).

You mentioned that you stopped the Heartgard 6 months ago. He will need another Heartworm test before you start any Heartworm preventive again. Remember that mosquitoes can STILL fly inside. So living in Texas, he is still at risk, even if he is mostly indoors. At this time, though, I would not worry about the Heartgard.

DIET: NO DRY DOG FOOD. Feed him in one meal:
1/3 cup steamed green beans mixed with carrots
1/3 cup potato or yam
1-2 TBSP of cooked chicken or turkey
two meals daily.

In 2-3 days, if his stool is still not improved/more regular, continue the Nux vomica 30c two times daily. Stop the potato/yams, increase the green beans + carrots to 1/2 cup, and add in 1-2 TBSP canned pumpkin, with 1-2 TBSP cooked chicken or turkey.

You said he weighed 10 lbs. Is he overweight or is that a normal weight? If he is overweight, the recipe I listed above will help him to lose weight (And if he is overweight, that may be why his back gave out). If he is a good weight, then he should maintain with the above recipe, until he has improved enough to be able to walk/exercise more.

TO BE CONTINUED IN PART TWO

Hi Laura,
Here is the rest of my response:

You said that he is 3 years old and ‘has always been in perfect health’, but was born ‘slightly’ blind. If he has a congenital defect, then he has less than perfect health. And I would be concerned that he may have weakness in other areas, such as susceptibility to flea/tick products, vaccinations, or other drugs. Therefore, I would NOT continue any flea or tick products on him. Also, with the help of the holistic veterinarian, you should not give him any more vaccinations.

If the Nux vomica is not helping his coordination/walking, the other remedy useful for nerve injury is HYPERICUM 30c. Use the same dosage schedule, one pellet in 2 oz water, 1/2 dropperful by mouth three times daily for 3 days, then one time per week as needed.

When you are able to get him to your veterinarian, he will more than likely need an x-ray, and some blood work (which should include a heartworm test). Hopefully, in 2-3 weeks time, with strict cage rest, after his bath to remove toxins, homemade diet, his blood work will be normal, and I hope the x-rays are also normal.

Please keep us posted by coming back to this page and clicking the ‘click here to add your own comments’ link below.

Take care,
Dr. Carol Jean Tillman

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DISCLAIMER: This educational advice is based on the depth of your question and the picture you submitted. The above should never replace the advice of your local veterinarian, as they have the ability to evaluate your dog in person.

Related Pages:
– Dog Heartworm Symptoms,
– Natural Heartworm Treatment for Dogs,
– Ask a Vet Online Library – Dog Heartworm Section
– Dog Skin Conditions,
– Dog Flea Medicine, Treatment & Prevention,
– Ask a Vet Online Library – Dog Fleas & Ticks Section
– Dog Vaccination Schedule,
– Ask a Vet Online Library – Dog Vaccinations Section

Thanks Dr. Tillman!

I took my little guy in for x-rays yesterday. They revealed that he has 3 calcified disks in his back.

The vet suspects it’s genetic but the breeder is a friend of mine and his dogs aren’t having these problems.

Because my dog is only 3 yrs old, I suspect that I need to step up with his nutrition. I will try the Nux Vomica that you recommended, I take it myself, and the diet you suggested.

My vet wants us to go into surgery right away to remove the calcifications.

I’m not sure a lifestyle change would dissolve these.

Thanks again! Laura

Hi Laura,
Thank you for the update. I agree with you, that a conservative approach at this time would be best. Surgery can always be done later if there is no response to ‘cage’ rest (restricted activity), diet and homeopathic remedies after 4-6 weeks.

The calcified discs may not go away, if he is able to achieve bone ‘re-modeling’ so that the discs are not impinging on his spinal cord. And if his spinal cord is able to heal and he regains nerve function again, that is all that matters.

Please keep us posted by coming back to this page and clicking the ‘click here to add your own comments’ link below.

Take care,
Dr. Carol Jean Tillman

P.S. If you’ve found this service or our web site helpful, please “Like” us by clicking the like button at the top of the left margin. Thank you!

DISCLAIMER: This educational advice is based on the depth of your question and the picture you submitted. The above should never replace the advice of your local veterinarian, as they have the ability to evaluate your dog in person.

HI I have been trying to find information on helping a dog get better who has had a stroke. Jerry is my 13 year old Dachshund who has had small seizures since he was 4. His brother has had the same thing since he was 4. They were rescues and the Mom was not fed a proper diet and was also quite old when she had them. 3 weeks ago Jerry had one seizure after another and I took him to the ER . They got him stabilized but I could not afford the 2000.00 for an MRI so got him to my vet the next day and he was given a steroid shot –think he has had 2 now–which I know helped as his right ye was protruding and it is much better now. He is wobbly when walks, falls over easily, knows he has to go but cannot seem to remember when, has lost his bar..which floors me as he has always been a barkaholic, seems to know his name but lists to the right.
What can I do to help retrain the part of the brain that has been damaged and what can I give him. Someone told me to put him on a vegetarian diet but now thinking he should go to high protein? thank you in Lynnwood, WA Shelly and Jerry

October 19, 2013

Hi Shelley,
Thanks for your question!

I’m happy to help, but we only accept new questions from subscribers (the original question above was from a subscriber).

I would advise that you seek the help of a holistic veterinarian. It sounds like Jerry may need the benefit of not only ‘conventional’ drugs. (I will Rx, to the owner, injectable diazepam (valium) to be given per rectum (without a needle) at the time of a seizure to decrease the length of the seizure and decrease the severity and hasten the recovery.)

And ALSO use either homeopathic Belladonna or other appropriate remedy for seizures, while improving the diet and giving supplements to support the liver and immune system.